Trishie Posted November 17, 2017 Report Share Posted November 17, 2017 Hi, can you suggest suitable designs for dogs friendly stairs, that don't take up too much space and that are moveable? The stairs in the companionway are ladder like and are not workable for our dogs. We have someone lined up to make us a new set so I would really appreciate ideas and experience led designs. Thanks in advance, Trish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artleknock Posted November 17, 2017 Report Share Posted November 17, 2017 I would think all stairs are dog friendly, they are for our dog. With her at the bottom and food at the top she would climb a builders ladder, in the boat she will hammer from one end to the other and hardly notice the steps in the way. Perhaps something like this - http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/searchterm?searchTerm=ramp+car - would help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted November 17, 2017 Report Share Posted November 17, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 17, 2017 Report Share Posted November 17, 2017 (edited) https://www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp?dept_id=569&pf_id=69860&ptm_source=google&ptm_medium=shopping&ptm_campaign=under10_69860&campaign=324014531&adgroup=24641921891&content=214012163251&keyword=&gclid=CjwKCAiArrrQBRBbEiwAH_6sNBf3YIAHis5ZSDw-wb7lv6jn_YVBOW7Ee8fskZ-cnT0Avdi3PI7MUhoCf1UQAvD_BwE https://www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp?dept_id=569&pf_id=7064 Edited November 17, 2017 by MJG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty69 Posted November 17, 2017 Report Share Posted November 17, 2017 On Same site https://www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp?dept_id=569&pf_id=62872 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Smith Posted November 19, 2017 Report Share Posted November 19, 2017 Our rear steps are wide tread ladder style and fairly steep but our 7 year old lab gets up and down no problem. Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weeble Posted November 19, 2017 Report Share Posted November 19, 2017 On 17/11/2017 at 15:33, artleknock said: I would think all stairs are dog friendly, they are for our dog. With her at the bottom and food at the top she would climb a builders ladder, in the boat she will hammer from one end to the other and hardly notice the steps in the way. Perhaps something like this - http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/searchterm?searchTerm=ramp+car - would help. My dog has severe arthritic elbows and we use a two part folding ramp on the boat. However the grip on most of these ramps aren't that good so we cut a couple of cheap front door mats from b&q to size and fitted them to the treads, and it works exceptionally now. Dog can get off and on easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mross Posted November 19, 2017 Report Share Posted November 19, 2017 To the OP. What size/breed are your dogs? Are they old or suffering from some joint stiffness? Or are they tiny? :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard10002 Posted November 19, 2017 Report Share Posted November 19, 2017 Our Springer was diagnosed with a slipped disc in July. With some help I built a series of 3 steps that sit on top of each other, and which turn the corner from the alley by the bed to the rear doors. They use the existing steps as part of their support as well as a piece of 2 x 1 screwed to the end if the bed. As the bed is at that end of the boat the steps also help him to get on the bed. They are such that he doesn’t have to jump/step more than about 35cm. To get the idea I looked at lots of pictures of boat steps. It needed some thinking about, but was reasonably straightforward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHS Posted November 19, 2017 Report Share Posted November 19, 2017 We tried a folding ramp for our 14 1/2 year old Black Lab. two reasons why we gave up on it 1) it took up a lot of space when folded away and was difficult to erect in our rear galley, as you can’t stand at the side of it 2) even though it was really wide, our lab consistently kept putting a foot down between the ramp and our cupboards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHS Posted November 19, 2017 Report Share Posted November 19, 2017 I had wondered about folding steps. Just spotted this American website, they give an idea of what could be done http://www.boatingbuddy.com/boat-ladders/bow-to-beach-ladders.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted November 19, 2017 Report Share Posted November 19, 2017 9 minutes ago, MHS said: I had wondered about folding steps. Just spotted this American website, they give an idea of what could be done http://www.boatingbuddy.com/boat-ladders/bow-to-beach-ladders.html Very very nice. The steps look useful also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trishie Posted November 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2017 Hi mrmoss, We have two large dogs and an almost vertical companionway ladder. There is no way they will be able to get down it. We need to find a replacement that gives a greater tread area and reduces the steepness. A carpenter has quoted to make some, but they become very expensive and not immediately available. Thanks for your interest. Trish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard10002 Posted November 20, 2017 Report Share Posted November 20, 2017 Do you need to use a carpenter? I cut some pieces of thick MDF to fit, adding uprights using steel angles and kitchen cupboard joints. It doesn't look professional, but looks OK, and comes to bits to allow access underneath. I'll see if I can take a picture to give a flavour of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHS Posted November 21, 2017 Report Share Posted November 21, 2017 Decent quality 32mm/38mm thick decking boards are ideal. We planned an improvement to our 3 step arrangement. We made a trial set of 4 steps at a less shallow angle from decking. Once we were happy, we had a duplicate made in oak. They are easier for elderly parents, though our 14 year old Labrador still needs some help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proper Charlie Posted November 21, 2017 Report Share Posted November 21, 2017 When our black lab had a cruciate op, we got one of these. It's strong and telescopic, and fits beneath the gunnels. In fact it takes up so little room that we haven't bothered taking it off the boat even though she now jumps up the stern ladder-stairs as she did before the op. Expensive but worth it, in our view: https://www.easyanimal.co.uk/deluxe-telescopic-dog-ramp.html#.WhRIaUpl_IU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlt Posted November 21, 2017 Report Share Posted November 21, 2017 If you tie an Ecofan to his back, angled downwards, his body heat will cause the blades to spin enabling your hound to hover effortlessly from one level to another. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trishie Posted November 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2017 Thank you everybody for your ideas. We've a notional make an quick solution to get us all on board then go for he proper solution after some time in the saddle. thanks again, trish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard10002 Posted November 21, 2017 Report Share Posted November 21, 2017 That’s what I’ve done, and it’s going to evolve a bit further this weekend to make things better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Featured Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now